NEW TIME: Historic Smithfield’s Independence Day Commemoration is now 10 AM TO 1 PM in response to this week’s heatwave.

Join us at Historic Smithfield for a full day of colonial-era demonstrations, rousing music, and programming that explores the full meaning of American independence. Watch a blacksmith shape iron at the forge, try your hand at candle dipping or tricorn hat making, and stroll through the grounds as spinners, militia members, a broommaker, and other historical demonstrators bring the 18th century to life.

The day's programming takes seriously both the promise and the complexity of July 4th. Hear the Declaration of Independence read aloud alongside Frederick Douglass' landmark 1852 address, What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?, presented by Blacksburg Town Councilman Darryl Campbell. The Proclamation Theatre and Floyd Historical Dancers will perform, and the Montgomery Junior Appalachian Musicians and Blue Ridge Vocal Connections will provide live music throughout the day.

Younger visitors can visit the petting zoo, use the printing press, and contribute to a community paper star art project. Pop-up lectures, mill tours, and house tours round out the day.

This event is free and open to the community, presented in partnership with the Montgomery Museum of Art & History, Meadowbranch Museum, Calfee Community and Cultural Center, and the Friends of St. Luke, Odd Fellows, and Household of Ruth.

Join us for two talks that offer a nuanced look at the New River Valley’s early settlers — from the forces that brought them across the Atlantic to the complex legacy they forged on the Virginia frontier.

Together, these talks invite us to grapple with a founding family whose story reflects both the ambition and the deep contradictions of early American settlement.

Before we mark July 4th, consider this: was July 2nd the more historically significant date? Dr. Dan Thorp makes the case for why the date Congress actually voted for independence deserves a second look. Snacks and refreshments will be available.

Plan Your Visit

The concert takes place at the Historic Smithfield pavilion in Blacksburg, Virginia.

• Seating: Chairs will be set up in the Pavilion. Bring your own lawn chairs, blankets, and picnic gear. Come early to find your perfect spot on the grounds.

• Admission: Free. This is a community event open to everyone. Donations to support the band are gratefully accepted.

• Setting: Historic Smithfield is one of the region's most beloved landmarks — a perfect backdrop for an American music celebration.

• Accessibility: Please contact Jenny Nehrt, Visitor Experiences Coordinator, if you need special accommodations to attend this event: jnehrt@historicsmithfield.org

About the Blacksburg Community Band

The Blacksburg Community Band is a proud fixture of the New River Valley's cultural life, bringing together talented volunteer musicians to share the joy of live concert band music with the community. The ensemble performs a wide range of repertoire spanning classical, popular, and patriotic traditions.

We begin not in July, but in June — because the story of American freedom does not begin and end in 1776. This gathering honors the more than 200 individuals who were enslaved at Greater Smithfield, whose names deserve to be spoken aloud. Join us for remarks by Blacksburg Town Councilman Darryl Campbell, a community reading of those names, and music by the Blacksburg Master Chorale. A community potluck featuring dishes from historic African American cookbooks follows at the Pavilion.\

Taste the history.
Bring a recipe from the source.

Black cooks, chefs, and kitchen keepers have shaped American food from the very beginning — their flavors, techniques, and recipes woven into the fabric of this country's table. The authors of these books were among the first to write that legacy down. This Juneteenth, we invite you to explore their cookbooks, find a recipe that speaks to you, and bring it to share with our community down at the Pavilion following the program.

Find a recipe.
Make it. Share it.

Every dish you bring carries a story two centuries in the making. Let's fill the table together.

1. Browse one of the cookbooks above (or find another) — they're free to read online.

2. Pick a recipe that calls to you, adapt it to your kitchen.

3. Bring it to the celebration and tell us about the recipe and chef.

One of the town’s most popular events, Blacksburg Fork and Cork is held each spring to showcase local and regional wineries, artists and restaurants. Enjoy wine tastings, live music, cooking demos and wine information sessions.

This event is hosted by the Blacksburg Partnership. Please direct questions regarding this event to Ann Cassell, President (ann@blacksburgpartnership.org) or Amelia Tuckwiller, Events Coordinator (amelia@blacksburgpartnership.org).

Join us for a fun-filled morning of reading and activities at Historic Smithfield!

This week, we're teaming up with the Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum to learn a piece of presidential history and read "How The Sheep Helped Win the War, perfect for ages 5-9. After the story, stick around for a fun follow-up activity that brings history to life!

"This children’s book tells the story of President and Mrs. Wilson placing a flock of sheep on the White House lawn during World War I to free the gardeners for wartime duties. When the “White House Wool” was auctioned, nearly $100,000 was raised for the Red Cross. This educational book connects literature, history, and civic engagement in a memorable way."

Enter through the Gift Shop, located in the historic gardens.

This is a wonderful opportunity for kids to connect with local history in a hands-on, engaging way. We hope to see you there!

Date & Time: Saturday, April 11 | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Historic Smithfield, 1000 Merry Oak Way, Blacksburg, VA

Step back in time and experience life on Virginia’s colonial frontier at Historic Smithfield’s 2026 season opener! Our “Frontier Spring in 1776” celebration invites the community to explore the daily life, work, and crafts of families living in Southwest Virginia during the Revolutionary era.

Event Highlights:

Live Music:

• 11:00 AM: Performance by Montgomery Junior Appalachian Musicians

• 12:00 PM: Living history presentation with William Preston (Michael Hudson) in conversation with Thomas Jefferson (Bryan Austin)

• 1:00 PM: Foot-stomping bluegrass by New Standard

• Plus live harp music provided by Chloe Scales!

  Living History & Demonstrations:

• Hands-on crafts inspired by 1776 frontier life: candle dipping, seed planting, church dolls, and simple textile projects

• Blacksmith demonstrations showing traditional tool-making techniques

• Militia demonstrations illustrating colonial military drills and frontier defense

• Hand-made shingles demonstrations by the Matthews Living History Farm

Food available!

Start your day with Cousins Coffee, Co. or grab a hot dog from Hot Bunz Hot Dogz.

Experience History Firsthand

Explore the seasonal work of colonial families—planting gardens, preparing food, repairing tools, and producing household goods—through engaging activities designed for visitors of all ages.

Silent Auction — Bid on Something Special, Build Something Lasting

Our silent auction is live! Browse a wonderful collection of items generously donated by our volunteers — including decorative wreaths, a handmade quilt, local woodwork, prints, and ceramics — and place your bid in support of Historic Smithfield's future.

Every dollar raised goes directly toward the construction of our new living history building, where thousands of students each year will enjoy even richer, hands-on experiences connecting with the past. Whether you walk away with a treasure or simply show your support, your bid helps keep history alive for the next generation.

The auction closes at 2:30 PM on Saturday, April 11 at the end of Opening Day. You can bid online now or in person during the event.

Step beyond the traditional historic tour and into the lived world of the people who called Smithfield home — not as guests, but as the enslaved men, women, and children whose labor, love, and resilience shaped every corner of this place.

Join author Kerri Moseley-Hobbs for an intimate, moving walkthrough of Historic Smithfield as she reads excerpts from her book More Than A Fraction — a powerful work of historical fiction that restores humanity and voice to the Fraction family, who were enslaved at Smithfield. Through richly imagined prose, Kerri brings to life their personalities, inner thoughts, relationships, and daily experiences — the full, complex lives that history so often leaves out.

As the group moves from room to room and across the grounds, each reading unfolds in the very place where its story is set — letting the physical space and the narrative illuminate each other in ways no conventional tour can.

This is Black history told with depth, dignity, and imagination. Come ready to listen, to feel, and to see Smithfield differently.

Free and open to all. No registration or tickets required.

Kerri Moseley-Hobbs
Founder and Executive Director
 
Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs, Founder, and Executive Director of the More Than A Fraction Foundation, brings nearly two decades of comprehensive experience in education, straddling roles encompassing administration and research/program development. Her journey includes pivotal contributions to postsecondary (higher education) policy, regulation, and administration, coupled with a deep involvement in experiential learning, educational presentations, exposure initiatives, and historical research. Beyond her extensive involvement in prestigious projects, Dr. Moseley-Hobbs is an author, penning the creative non-fiction book "More Than a Fraction: Based on a True Story." She stands as one of the prominent voices chronicling the history of Africans in America, and African Americans, of Maryland, the Southeast region, and beyond.

Before assuming leadership roles in higher education, Dr. Moseley-Hobbs served as a promotion's assistant and junior writer at The Baltimore Times Newspaper in Baltimore, Maryland. Her remarkable journey in publishing commenced at the age of 12 and continued until she embarked on her higher education career at 18.

Holder of a doctorate degree in Education and three degrees from the University of Maryland—a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, a master’s degree in interdisciplinary management, and a master’s degree in business administration (MBA)—Dr. Moseley-Hobbs traces her lineage as a 4th-generation descendant of Thomas Fraction, the central figure in her debut creative non-fiction book, "More Than A Fraction”.

🐴✨ Two Locations, One Amazing Story!

We’ve all heard of Paul Revere, but have you heard of Susanna Bolling? Susanna’s Midnight Ride is a historical novel for young people based on the true story of a 16-year-old girl from Virginia who saved French General Lafayette from capture, paving the way for the decisive Battle of Yorktown. Join author Libby McNamee to ride along with Susanna as she makes history.

Almost five years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Revolution hung in the balance. In late May 1781, General Cornwallis invaded City Point, VA, and quartered his army there. As 16-year-old Susanna Bolling served the British general and his officers dinner, she overheard their plans to capture General Lafayette and crush the American rebellion once and for all. Under the cover of darkness, she snuck out of her house through a secret underground tunnel and canoed downriver. Then she grabbed a neighbor’s horse and rode ten miles to warn Lafayette. But would she make it back home by sunrise without detection?

Presented in partnership with Historic Smithfield. A Montgomery County 250 and Virginia 250 Event.

🐴✨ Two Locations, One Amazing Story!

We’ve all heard of Paul Revere, but have you heard of Susanna Bolling? Susanna’s Midnight Ride is a historical novel for young people based on the true story of a 16-year-old girl from Virginia who saved French General Lafayette from capture, paving the way for the decisive Battle of Yorktown. Join author Libby McNamee to ride along with Susanna as she makes history.

Almost five years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Revolution hung in the balance. In late May 1781, General Cornwallis invaded City Point, VA, and quartered his army there. As 16-year-old Susanna Bolling served the British general and his officers dinner, she overheard their plans to capture General Lafayette and crush the American rebellion once and for all. Under the cover of darkness, she snuck out of her house through a secret underground tunnel and canoed downriver. Then she grabbed a neighbor’s horse and rode ten miles to warn Lafayette. But would she make it back home by sunrise without detection?

Presented in partnership with Historic Smithfield. A Montgomery County 250 and Virginia 250 Event.

Join us for a fun and hands-on Story Hour at Historic Smithfield, perfect for young learners and their families! This month, we’ll read Adventurous Max Flax—a delightful story full of imagination and whimsy.

After the reading, children will get creative by crafting and weave their own yarn squares. Parental assistance is appreciated depending on your child’s age and ability.

• Free and open to all young learners and their families

• Storytime + craft activity

• Please enter through the museum gift shop

We can’t wait to share stories, history, and creativity with you—come read, imagine, and craft with us!

Date & Time: Saturday, March 21 at 11:00 AM

Join us this winter for the Smithfield Crafting Guild, a new pilot program at Historic Smithfield designed to bring local makers together in a relaxed, welcoming environment. Bring your knitting, embroidery, sketchbook, sewing, or any portable craft project and enjoy time creating and connecting in the historic cellar of Smithfield.

The cellar was once a workspace for the plantation’s enslaved workers, whose skilled labor shaped this site. As we gather to make together, we do so with respect for the history of this space and the hands that once worked here.

What to Expect:
• Informal, self-led crafting
• All skill levels welcome
• Bring your own project
• Occasional guest artisans or skill-sharing sessions
• A cozy, creative atmosphere rooted in history

Winter Session Dates:
• Thursday, February 12
• Thursday, March 12
10:30 AM–12:00 PM

Please Note:
This is a new program we are piloting this winter. Dates and times may shift as we learn more about community interest and work to make the Crafting Guild as accessible and welcoming as possible.

This is a low-pressure, come-as-you-are gathering — no registration required. Bring a friend, meet fellow makers, and enjoy a peaceful morning of crafting at Historic Smithfield.

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Come hear the powerful story of an illegally enslaved Virginia family and their fearless legal battle for freedom, told in Seeking Justice: The Extraordinary Freedom Suits of an Enslaved Virginia Family.

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Join “Susannah Preston” at Historic Smithfield for a delightful Storytime and Craft Hour designed especially for young learners!

Children (suggested age: early elementary) are invited to gather for a cozy picture book reading of Sybil’s Night Ride by Karen B. Winnick, followed by a hands-on craft inspired by the story. After the reading, participants will create their own lanterns using everyday materials and battery-powered candles—perfect for sparking imagination and creativity.

This engaging program encourages early connections to history through storytelling and creative play in a warm, welcoming setting.

Perfect for families, homeschool groups, and little history lovers.

Join us this winter for the Smithfield Crafting Guild, a new pilot program at Historic Smithfield designed to bring local makers together in a relaxed, welcoming environment. Bring your knitting, embroidery, sketchbook, sewing, or any portable craft project and enjoy time creating and connecting in the historic cellar of Smithfield.

The cellar was once a workspace for the plantation’s enslaved workers, whose skilled labor shaped this site. As we gather to make together, we do so with respect for the history of this space and the hands that once worked here.

What to Expect:
• Informal, self-led crafting
• All skill levels welcome
• Bring your own project
• Occasional guest artisans or skill-sharing sessions
• A cozy, creative atmosphere rooted in history

Winter Session Dates:
• Thursday, February 12
• Thursday, March 12
10:30 AM–12:00 PM

Please Note:
This is a new program we are piloting this winter. Dates and times may shift as we learn more about community interest and work to make the Crafting Guild as accessible and welcoming as possible.

This is a low-pressure, come-as-you-are gathering — no registration required. Bring a friend, meet fellow makers, and enjoy a peaceful morning of crafting at Historic Smithfield.

See less

Join us for an engaging afternoon of history and music with musician and historian Geoff White, who will perform songs written and played during the American Civil War while sharing their stories and historical significance.

This event is free and open to the public and is sponsored by Historic Smithfield, the Blacksburg Museum & Cultural Foundation, and the Virginia Center for the Civil War Studies.

RESCHEDULED DATE: Saturday, February 7, 2026 | 1:00 PM
Alexander Black House, Blacksburg
204 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, VA 24060

Sponsored by Historic Smithfield, the Blacksburg Museum & Cultural Foundation, and the Virginia Center for Civil War Studies.

Parking Info: Limited street parking is available along Draper Road near the Alexander Black House. If those spaces are full, we recommend using nearby public parking in downtown Blacksburg, including the Kent Square Parking Garage, just a short walk away. Please allow a few extra minutes to park and walk, especially during busy downtown events.

Meet the Author: Libby McNamee, author of "Susanna's Midnight Ride" In-Person at the Jessie Peterman Memorial Library in Floyd or the Blacksburg Library!

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We’ve all heard of Paul Revere, but have you heard of Susanna Bolling? Susanna’s Midnight Ride is a historical novel for young people based on the true story of a 16-year-old girl from Virginia who saved French General Lafayette from capture, paving the way for the decisive Battle of Yorktown. Join author Libby McNamee to ride along with Susanna as she makes history.

Almost five years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Revolution hung in the balance. In late May 1781, General Cornwallis invaded City Point, VA, and quartered his army there. As 16-year-old Susanna Bolling served the British general and his officers dinner, she overheard their plans to capture General Lafayette and crush the American rebellion once and for all. Under the cover of darkness, she snuck out of her house through a secret underground tunnel and canoed downriver. Then she grabbed a neighbor’s horse and rode ten miles to warn Lafayette. But would she make it back home by sunrise without detection?

Presented in partnership with Historic Smithfield & the Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library. A Montgomery County 250 and Virginia 250 Event.

Meet the Author: Libby McNamee, author of "Susanna's Midnight Ride" In-Person at the Jessie Peterman Memorial Library in Floyd or the Blacksburg Library!

...............................................................

We’ve all heard of Paul Revere, but have you heard of Susanna Bolling? Susanna’s Midnight Ride is a historical novel for young people based on the true story of a 16-year-old girl from Virginia who saved French General Lafayette from capture, paving the way for the decisive Battle of Yorktown. Join author Libby McNamee to ride along with Susanna as she makes history.

Almost five years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Revolution hung in the balance. In late May 1781, General Cornwallis invaded City Point, VA, and quartered his army there. As 16-year-old Susanna Bolling served the British general and his officers dinner, she overheard their plans to capture General Lafayette and crush the American rebellion once and for all. Under the cover of darkness, she snuck out of her house through a secret underground tunnel and canoed downriver. Then she grabbed a neighbor’s horse and rode ten miles to warn Lafayette. But would she make it back home by sunrise without detection?

Presented in partnership with Historic Smithfield & the Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library. A Montgomery County 250 and Virginia 250 Event.

Event Highlights

Sip & Savor

• Enjoy an elegant tea service in the spirit of centuries past.

• Sample Colonial sweets inspired by recipes from the 1700s.

Create & Craft

• Make your own ornament using tin punching, a folk art inspired by the region’s earliest German settlers.

• Design a wreath to bring festive greenery into your home.

• Write a letter to Santa with an authentic ink quill—a keepsake to treasure.

Meet & Greet

• Capture the magic—take a photo with Santa in a festive colonial setting.

Step Into the Dance

• Learn English Country Dance from the Floyd Historical Dancers and feel the rhythm of the past.

Learn & Discover

• Watch artisans and demonstrators at work, from skilled blacksmiths to colonial militia reenactors.

• Stroll through our artisanal vendor market for handcrafted gifts and unique finds.

Purchase a parking space here.

Bake Like It’s 1776!

Step back in time and celebrate the flavors of early America at Historic Smithfield’s Pie Baking Contest — where history, creativity, and community come together in the spirit of Thanksgiving.

Local bakers are invited to craft pies inspired by 18th-century recipes. Whether sweet or savory, every entry should tell a story about the tastes and traditions of the American Revolution era.

Meet the Judges

Our distinguished judging panel brings together culinary creativity, community leadership, and deep expertise in food history:

• Betül Tunç — Instagram chef with over 10 million followers and NYT-Best Selling cookbook author of Turkuaz Kitchen

• Dr. Anna Zeide — Director of Food Studies at Virginia Tech, historian of food, and award-winning author exploring the connections between food, culture, and the environment

• Peggy Fanney — Smithfield-Preston Foundation Board Chair and a descendant of James Patton Preston, son of Colonel William Preston and Susanna Smith Preston

Event Schedule

• 10:00–11:00 AM – Pie drop-off at Historic Smithfield

• 11:00 AM – Judging begins

• 11:30 AM – The winner is announced and public tasting starts. First come, first serve!

Contest Categories

This year’s Historic Smithfield Pie Baking Contest features two divisions so everyone can join in the fun:

• Adult Contest – Open to all bakers age 16 and up.

• Youth Contest – Open to young bakers under 16, who can enter individually or with the help of an adult.

Each contest will have a Sweet and Savory winner.
All entries will be evaluated using the same criteria — historic accuracy, flavor, and presentation — but youth entries will be celebrated for creativity and enthusiasm as well as taste.

How to Enter

1. Choose a historic recipe — Draw inspiration from 18th-century sources such as American Cookery (1796) or The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy (1747).

2. Submit your entry by Thursday, November 13.

3. Bring your baked pie to Historic Smithfield between 10:00–11:00 AM on November 15.

Inspiration for Bakers

Need help finding a historic recipe? Explore these authentic sources:

• American Cookery by Amelia Simmons (1796)

• The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy by Hannah Glasse (1747)

• Colonial Williamsburg Historic Foodways

• George Washington’s Mount Vernon

• Old Sturbridge Village

Submit Your Entry Here

Step back in time for a day of food, music, and living history!
Hands-on demonstrations, live music, local artisans, and family activities bring 18th-century life to the present. Perfect for families, history lovers, and anyone who enjoys great food and live tunes.

Featured Highlights

• Live Music: Afternoon sets from Ashlee Watkins & Andrew Small — traditional folk and colonial-inspired tunes.

• Food: Local favorite Cooper Dog & Co. and a savory camp-cooking demonstration with fresh chicken and seasonal vegetables.

• Hands-On History: Try blacksmithing, spinning, cider pressing, and explore a colonial militia encampment.

About the Event

Historic Smithfield’s Colonial Day invites you to experience living history first-hand.
Talk with demonstrators, sample camp cooking, and enjoy small-town hospitality.

What to expect:

• Interactive demonstrations of colonial-era skills and trades

• Local artisans offering crafts, candles, soaps, and homestead goods

• Live music from Ashlee Watkins & Andrew Small

• Family-friendly fun: games, dress-up, house tours, and animal encounters

  Vendor Marketplace

  Shop locally made goods and homestead products:

  • Cooper Dog & Co.

  • Designz by mimi

  • Urban Homesteader VA

  • Goat Haven Soap

  • FWM Candles LLC

  • Women’s Club of Radford

  Demonstrations

  • Blacksmithing

  • Colonial militia encampment

  • Camp cooking over a live fire

  • Apple cider press

  • Spinning

  Family Activities

  • Welcome Table & information booth

  • Guided house tours

  • Culinary herbs demonstration by Jean’s Apothecare

  • Furs & bones + colonial jobs matching game

  • Colonial games hosted by Blacksburg Ballet

  • Try on colonial clothes for photos

  • Make a piggy bank with Friends of St. Luke, Odd Fellows, and Household of Ruth

  Visitor Information

  • Check in at the Welcome Table for maps and the day’s schedule

  • Restrooms and accessible facilities available

  • Bring comfortable shoes — much of the site is outdoors on grass and historic paths

Mr. Patrick Henry Jolly, 5th Great Grandson of Patrick Henry, will present his ancestor's famous speech at Historic Smithfield. This event is presented by the Alleghany Daughters of the American Revolution.

Please join us for a countdown to America’s 250th Anniversary!

This free event is held in the cellar of Historic Smithfield. Space is limited and it's first come, first serve.